Published 6:00 pm, Thursday, March 27, 2014

Records: Midland College 13-14, 2-10 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference; Howard College 22-6, 7-5

Last WJCAC series: Midland College 2, El Paso Community College 2; Howard College 2, New Mexico Junior College 2

Notes & quotes: Midland College looks to build on the momentum it gained last Saturday when it broke a 10-game WJCAC losing streak with a doubleheader sweep of El Paso Community College, winning 10-8 and 9-2. The Chaps are also coming off a 15-9 non-conference victory against New Mexico JC on Wednesday. “We have to build on that momentum,” MC coach David Coleman said. “Every season has its turning point and Saturday was definitely a defining moment for us. It just got to that point where we just had the right guys step up and persevere no matter what. The ability has never been the issue. It was about needing something good to happen and go make it happen.”... Howard comes in leading the WJCAC in both team ERA (3.40) and batting average (.352). Coleman admits that he hasn’t seen the Hawks since fall ball but said that from what he saw, the Hawks have athletic and talented players and is not surprised with the success they’ve had this year. ...While the Hawks can be enough of a concern, Coleman said his team needs to take care of the mental part of the game. “It’s about controlling the game and trusting what we do, and throw strikes. We need to play the game at a comfortable level. ... The Chaps will look to stick with the same starting rotation of sophomore right-handers Thomas McIlraith (2-4, 5.75 ERA) and Michael Brosig (2-1, 5.46) going on the mound today, followed by sophomore righties Jayden O’Dell (1-1, 3.58) and Brandon Courville (2-3, 2.18) on Saturday. ... Howard’s probable starters are sophomore LHP Austin Solecitto (4-1, 1.13), freshman RHP Zach Flanagan (3-0, 2.81), freshman RHP Chris Cano (3-0, 4.00) and sophomore RHP Scott Tanner (2-2, 2.75).

Next: Western Texas College at Midland College, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday; Howard College at Frank Phillips College (DH), noon April 4

WJCAC Baseball Standings

Conference Overall

W L W L

Frank Phillips 10 2 16 10

New Mexico JC 10 2 23 11

Howard College 7 5 22 6

Odessa College 7 5 17 10

El Paso CC 6 6 12 16

NMMI 6 6 12 17

Luna CC 5 7 9 18

Clarendon College 4 8 9 11

Western Texas 3 9 8 18

Midland College 2 10 13 14

Last weekend’s WJCAC series results

Midland College 2, El Paso Community College 2; Howard College 2, New Mexico Junior College 2; Frank Phillips College 4, Western Texas College 0

This weekend’s WJCAC series

Midland College vs. Howard College; Odessa College vs. New Mexico Junior College; Frank Phillips College at Luna Community College; El Paso Community College at New Mexico Military Institute; Clarendon College at Western Texas College